The McCune Collection Presents the Spring 2013 Lecture Series

Sunday March 17, 2pm
Mel Ahlborn
William Morris and the Kelmscott Press

The McCune Collection includes an exceptional edition of The Kelmscott Chaucer; considered a triumphant achievement in book design and production, it is one of only 48 copies. Mel Ahlborn will consider the founder of the Kelmscott Press, William Morris and the press's history; and will also speak on the author of the text, Geoffrey Chaucer, as well as the book's illustrator, famed artist Edward Burne-Jones, who once referred to the work as a "pocket cathedral." The afternoon concludes with a presentation of the McCune’s Kelmscott Chaucer and details of artist Michael Nelson's collaborative project, based on the Canterbury Tales, that will bring the Kelmscott Chaucer to life as a new work of art and drama via Victorian Theatre.

During the mid nineteenth century, Paris underwent the greatest urban reconstruction program the world had ever seen. Much of the city's history was lost as Medieval and Renaissance quarters crumbled. The man appointed to carry out this task was Baron Georges Haussmann. What motives lay behind this massive urban redesign? How did Parisians react as they saw their ancient city swept away? With over 200 images, Leonard Pitt takes us through pre-Haussmann Paris to witness this transformation and then continues into the 20th century to see how succeeding generations have stamped their vision onto one of the world's great cities.

Sunday May 19, 2pm
Michael and Valerie Nelson
Mutiny on the Bounty - a musical toy theatre production

Michael and Valerie Nelson present Mutiny on the Bounty, a musical toy theatre production of the well-known romantic seafaring tale. Toy theatre is a unique, printed form of puppet theatre very popular in the mid to late 1800’s in Europe and England, with a number of well known publishers creating stages, sets and figures that could be cut out and assembled for a parlor performance. The Nelsons will present their own humorous take on the famous mutiny, with tiny cannons that actually fire, dancing hula girls and live ukulele and singing. For those who may have concerns about propriety, be advised that the show contains some amusing “island nudity” as well as some light, adult themes. The Nelsons will also bring some printed samples of traditional toy theatres, and talk about the art form.